While it is true that, yes, I have flown in several HOT AIR BALLOONS over the years, I would by no means consider myself an expert, or even necessarily an aficionado of the experience. I know it’s hard to believe, but some hot air balloon rides can turn downright boring! 😂

Heretofore, my best and most exhilarating ride had been over the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. That certainly wasn’t boring! 😆

However, what I experienced in Cappadocia was even more spectacular, and unlike any balloon ride I have had before— or since.

Two things contributed to this:

1. I’d always ballooned in warm, temperate weather, never over snow and ice.

2. Previously, all of my balloon rides had been on clear, sunny days, devoid of any substantial cloud cover.

I also think it’s possible that this ride over CAPPADOCIA took us much higher than I’d ever been before (in a balloon, lol 😉), but all of this combined made for a unique and very enchanting experience.

The light DUSTING OF SNOW made everything below us seem surreal, while going in and out of the clouds made me feel like I was a cosmonaut soaring through the atmosphere of another planet. 🪐🪐🪐

🎥 📸 I came well prepared and shot all the footage and still photographs you see here of Cappadocia from both a balloon as well as from the ground, with multiple lenses in tow, and then eventually, also with a DJI drone. 📸🎥